🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,040 in Owen Sound versus $2,112 in Rugby.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Owen Sound versus $3,222 in Rugby.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,309 in Owen Sound versus $4,333 in Rugby.
🌍Living in Owen Sound costs roughly 3% less than in Rugby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Owen Sound53% above, Rugby58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.01CA$21.04
$20.08£14.93
-25.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9CA$78.4
$80.3£59.7
-30.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.11CA$14.17
$9.77£7.27
3.48%
Cappuccino
$3.23CA$4.52
$4.62£3.44
-30.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03CA$2.85
$2.01£1.49
1.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67CA$2.34
$1.33£0.99
25.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.38CA$6.14
$5.29£3.93
-17.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81CA$8.14
$6.05£4.50
-3.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78CA$2.50
$1.61£1.19
10.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.91CA$4.08
$1.61£1.19
80.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.50CA$6.30
$2.60£1.94
73.08%
Eggs
$3.40CA$4.77
$3.73£2.78
-8.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.83CA$9.58
$10.99£8.17
-37.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.06CA$23.92
$8.18£6.09
108.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.28CA$29.84
$13.82£10.28
53.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.07CA$5.70
$2.62£1.95
55.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82CA$2.55
$1.71£1.27
6.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91CA$4.07
$1.98£1.47
46.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13CA$5.80
$2.81£2.09
46.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51CA$3.52
$1.67£1.24
50.30%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06CA$4.28
$1.43£1.07
113.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.09CA$4.33
$1.06£0.79
191.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34CA$1.88
$1.42£1.05
-5.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.53CA$18.96
$17.59£13.08
-23.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.23CA$22.76
$12.09£8.99
34.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.07CA$7.11
$3.33£2.48
52.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32CA$3.25
$4.07£3.03
-43.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22CA$3.11
$2.65£1.97
-16.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.0CA$71.6
$96.2£71.5
-46.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67CA$6.55
$4.54£3.37
2.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10CA$2.94
$1.24£0.92
69.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.59CA$20.46
$24.49£18.22
-40.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13CA$1.59
$1.97£1.47
-42.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KCA$40.0K
$38.7K£28.8K
-26.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KCA$31.3K
$41.4K£30.8K
-46.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142CA$198
$294£219
-51.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.95CA$60.2
$23.64£17.58
81.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0CA$82.7
$43.36£32.25
36.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$83.7CA$117
$51.1£38.03
63.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.0CA$81.3
$13.51£10.05
329.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09CA$12.74
$13.77£10.25
-33.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$574CA$804
$1,413£1,051
-59.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2KCA$25.5K
$13.9K£10.4K
30.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.22CA$60.6
$112£83.6
-61.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.61CA$56.9
$36.26£26.97
12.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.1CA$114
$119£88.3
-31.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110CA$154
$108£80.4
1.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,091CA$1,530
$820£610
33.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$872CA$1,223
$827£615
5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,678CA$2,352
$1,531£1,139
9.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,555CA$2,180
$1,499£1,115
3.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,074£3,774
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,360£3,243
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Owen Sound
Rugby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,949CA$4,135
$3,338£2,482
-11.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.83
5.76
18.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Owen Sound: July 12, 2026
Last update for Rugby: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,091 in Owen Sound and $820 in Rugby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rugby pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Owen Sound vs $80.0 in Rugby. Groceries flip the comparison at $416 vs $296, with Rugby cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Owen Sound vs Rugby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rugby cheaper than Owen Sound?
Owen Sound is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Owen Sound or Rugby?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Rugby. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Owen Sound and Rugby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,091 in Owen Sound versus $820 in Rugby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Owen Sound or in Rugby?
Dining out is cheaper in Owen Sound – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $80.0 in Rugby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Owen Sound and in Rugby?
All in, you'll spend $2,040 per month in Owen Sound versus $2,112 in Rugby – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Owen Sound or in Rugby?
At $2,040 in Owen Sound versus $2,112 in Rugby, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Owen Sound but tight or insufficient in Rugby. The gap between the two cities makes Owen Sound the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Owen Sound or in Rugby?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Owen Sound or Rugby?
Safety-wise, Owen Sound and Rugby are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Owen Sound gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Rugby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Owen Sound vs other spots: cost of living compared